China denies it used stolen US technology to develop its 1st modern military attack helicopter

BEIJING, China - Allegations that China used stolen U.S. technology to develop a modern military attack helicopter were "severe deviations" from the facts, the Chinese Defence Ministry said Thursday.

A division of United Technologies Corp. pleaded guilty in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in June to crimes related to the illegal export of software that U.S. officials said was used by China to develop the helicopter. The United States has barred the export of defence articles to China since 1989.

Chinese Army Z-9WZ attack helicopter, designed and manufactured by China, makes a flight demonstration on the outskirts of Beijing, China July 24, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Andy Wong

The Defence Ministry said in a website posting that it relied solely on homegrown know-how in developing and manufacturing the helicopter, including its engine.

U.S. attorneys said the subsidiary — Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. — violated the embargo when it exported controlled technology to China, knowing it would be used to develop a military attack helicopter.

PWC, another subsidiary, and UTC agreed to pay more than $75 million in fines in connection with the export violations and for providing misleading information to the U.S. government.

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